Quote:
Originally posted by Discogoddess
I stand corrected. Soror Jemison, on her web site (www.maejemison.com), only mentions that she went into space on the shuttle Endeavor. I do know, however, that wherever she went in space, she took an AKA flag with her. Not sure if this was while she was in the cabin, working outside the cabin, or whatever. Just know that she did it, and we're tickled about it.
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Astronauts are permitted to carry what is known as a 'personal preference kit' (PPK) containing personal items of a sentimental nature to the astronaut. After the Apollo 15 PPK fiasco (in which a whole bunch of flown covers (stamped envelopes postmarked with launch day and landing day postmarks) appeared in a philatelic auction shortly after the mission)did NASA severely restrict the quantity and type of items an astronaut could carry into space.
Generally, PPKs are not opened during the flight, but the contents are listed in the crew's manifest.
In this case, Soror Jemison probably included an inscription or an affidavit on NASA letterhead to include with the flag stating (for example) "this flag was flown aboard Space Shuttle
Endeavour on mission STS-XX (dates of mission)". Without the letter and/or the authentic signature of Soror Jemison, the flag would not have 'provenance' as a flown item. Some will include a picture taken during the mission of the item as further proof that it was flown.
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